Location: Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region
Area:
14,600 km2 (5,637 mi2)
The Alberto de Agostini National Park is located
at the southern end of the XII Region of Magallanes and Chilean
Antarctica, and is made up of all the islands that are south of the
Strait of Magellan and west of Navarino Island, as well as a portion
of Tierra del Fuego, (the part that is to the south of the
Almirantazgo sound), including the Cordillera Darwin. Its more than
14,600 km² of surface crosses the provinces of Magallanes, Tierra
del Fuego and Chilean Antarctica. It is the third largest national
park in Chile2
The name of the park honors the Italian
missionary and explorer Alberto María de Agostini. Several coastal
glaciers and fjords are part of this park.
The park has dense vegetation, which is dispersed
along the mountain slopes, contrasting with the white of the ice from
the glaciers. It is formed, mainly, by coigües, canelos, lengas and some
edible species, such as the Magellan strawberry. In addition, as is
common in the southern sectors, mosses, lichens and fungi are found in
the soil.
In the plains, peat bogs are responsible for giving
life to the land.
Marine birds are the main form of animal life in the
park. Albatrosses, cormorants and petrels can be seen flying
intermingled, towards the side of the coast. In the more wooded areas,
canquenes and kingfishers are the easiest to spot. From time to time,
when looking at the sky, you can spot a condor.
Among the
mammals, it is common to see elephant seals in the beach areas, instead
towards the forests, it is the otters and coypu that mark their
presence.
In addition, this beautiful landscape appears on the
obverse of the new $10,000 bill from the new family of Chilean bills.
Cordillera de Darwin: backbone of the park, 35 km long
Mount Darwin: maximum height of the park, with 2,488 meters above sea
level
Monte Sarmiento: 2404 masl, The beauty of this mountain is
highlighted by Jules Verne in "Twenty thousand leagues under the sea".
On March 7, 1956, Carlo Mauri and Clemente Maffei achieved their
birthday for the first time.
French Peak: place where two glaciers
break off
Roncali Glacier and Italy: glaciers that break off from
Pico Francés
Pía Glacier: snowdrift nailed to the Darwin mountain
range
Garibaldi Glacier
Günter Glacier Plushow
Eagle Glacier
Brookes Glacier
Marinelli Glacier: it is the largest and has
impressive ice walls
Maritime: access is 80 nautical miles southeast of Punta Arenas. Navigation between Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams passes through the Beagle Channel, which is part of the park.